For those of us who have been fortunate enough never to need much help and figure things out for ourselves, needing others is akin to betraying who we are. We don’t need help—this requirement for support is for others, for weaker individuals, poor souls, whom we’ll do our best to succour but who are nothing like us.

Needing help is as humbling as it is widespread. If we haven’t needed it, we’ve probably not moved much from where we fell (on our feet) in the world after being raised and educated.

Indeed, needing help doesn’t define us as much as offering it does.

Needing help

When we have worked hard and sacrificed much, we have probably also developed a fear of seeing our efforts go up in smoke. Many dispassionate actors thrive in the aftermath of such despair, knowing it is an optimal moment to force a deal. Indeed, someone who has put almost everything into anything will be keen on settling. Give them something—anything— so they can tell themselves, “It wasn’t for nothing”.

We must remember, however painful it may be, that the fact something wasn’t for nothing doesn’t mean it was worth it.

It wasn’t for nothing

The plastic industry spends millions on scientists to conduct experiments that deem the causal relationship between plastic and ill-health inconclusive. Simultaneously, scientists trying to prove the opposite are terrified of losing their research funds if they dig too deep or speak too plainly about their findings.

Elsewhere, genocidal autocrats are toppled by bloodthirsty religious fundamentalists.

How not to despair? Yet, independent journalists are bringing these stories to us. And we are here reading them. It might be a small crack, but the darkness is not yet absolute.

Absolute darkness still cracks

While we could use more efficiency in many areas of our existence, personal and professional, efficiency is not a panacea. It has its place, and there are places where it shouldn’t be welcome.

As is often the case, this is easier said than done, and I have found the enemy lurking much closer than expected. Indeed, these daily musings are a case in point. I could spend a couple of hours on a Saturday and write five of them, schedule them for the week ahead, and then not worry about writing them every morning just before starting my day. There are other improvements: having a two- or three-hour writing session, a one-hour editing session, and another one-hour scheduling and publishing session would enhance the process. (Yes, we can build personal creative factories in a post-industrial world. Well done. Congratulations.)

Yet, all of this defeats the purpose. These short articles, these Martian thoughts are about stopping for a moment every day – every day – and letting thoughts out so they don’t fester in.

Stopping may not be efficient, but it may be exactly what we need.

Exactly what we need

One shouldn’t think doing whatever one likes is akin to being flexible. Flexibility is about adapting to different contexts and shifting standards. If one is the standard setter, one’s responsibility isn’t to be flexible but fair and compassionate.

If I make the rules, I am not being flexible when I add to and remove from them. I am being arbitrary. Mostly, I am being omnipotent. Those who abide by my rules will have a chance to be flexible within them – to the degree I choose. Rulers should commit to justice and coherence. We can’t praise them for their flexibility, which often is no more than a euphemism for cheating and ruling to serve their interests.

Dictatorships – and oligarchies – can be many things, but those in charge of them aren’t flexible: they’re just in charge.

Just in charge

Treating others as though they were stupid is a recipe for getting them to do the opposite of what we would like them to do. It is also more reassuring to believe that people aren’t foolish. Otherwise, what would be the point in becoming wiser besides personal satisfaction and general pride? If we were doomed to be ruled by those elected by idiots, why even bother trying to change anything?

The problem is that while we debate whether everyone is stupid – including ourselves – others are serving up prime stupidity by blandishing the masses into believing they can return to some former, glorious state that never was.

Radically, I now advocate for assuming everybody is dim-witted, especially myself, and for expending every effort committing to carving a space to thrive, aware of the voracious and doubtlessly sharp sharks circling us like they would their next meal.

Martian Thoughts

Needing help

It wasn’t for nothing

Absolute darkness still cracks

Exactly what we need

Just in charge

Of fools and sharks